Sweden, Italy With ‘World Records’ Slower Than European Marks

HERNING, Denmark, December 12. THIS morning at the European Short Course Championships the absurdity of the way that the official world records have been handled in the eight new relay events FINA began observing as legitimate since September reared its head.

In September, shortly after FINA’s official date recognizing eight new relays, including all of the 200 relays in short course competition, Indiana University put together a relay extravaganza with all of the officialdom necessary to claim the global marks. FINA came back a bit later, and only recognized the two mixed short course relays as official. The others were denied. IU’s records were quickly disposed of during the FINA World Cup circuit.

That’s left the men’s and women’s 200 freestyle and medley relays open for the taking here in Herning.

Italy’s Niccolo Bonacchi, Fancesco Di Lecce, Piero Codia and Luca Dotta turned in a 1:33.65 in the men’s 200 medley relay this morning to officially stand as the world record holders, should FINA recognize the initial swim. That’s still two seconds back of Russia’s European and meet record of 1:31.80 from 2009.

Then, Sweden’s Michelle Coleman, Sarah Sjostrom, Louise Hansson and Magdalena Kuras clocked a 1:37.21 in the women’s 200 free relay this morning to officially hold the record, four seconds off The Netherlands’ European and meet record of 1:33.25 also from 2009.

It’s going to be a busy time for the people in charge of the world record progressions!